PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Medical Assistance Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-86-059 Licensed midwives, 388-86-200 Scope of medical program services, 388-87-079 Payments to licensed midwives, and new chapter 388-533 WAC, Maternity-related services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.530, 74.04.050, 74.09.800.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: MAA is establishing a new chapter to incorporate and consolidate rules regarding maternity-related services. This chapter will include a section about a new program that MAA is developing whereby physicians and licensed midwives may apply to be a home birth provider, meeting specific qualifications and providing services to clients who meet low-risk assessment criteria.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Department of Health, employees are included in the workgroup.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this WAC. Draft material and information about how to participate are available by contacting the DSHS representative identified below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ann Myers, Regulatory Improvement Project, Medical Assistance Administration, Olympia, WA 98504-5530, phone (360) 586-2337, fax (360) 753-7315, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail myersea@dshs.wa.gov.
February 26, 1999
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit